Recoil absorber



April 6, 1948. ,R. s. SANFORD ET AL RECOIL ABSORBER Filed Jan. 11, 1945 under Jzurzli ,1 {4 fi ler/23 1s 1 In 051150115 Rey 60 Sanford AZex NEUTRAL omworsszr AT mmmm. reason. 0.|50"0FF;ET AT MAXIMUM 12500111 Patented Apr. 6 1948 Roy S. Sanford and Alexander Kurti, Woodbury,

Co nn., assignors to The Autoyre Company, In-

Conn, a corporation of corporated, Oakville,

Connecticut Application January 11, 1945, Serial No. 572,266

7 Claims.

[This invention relates. to recoil devices, more particularly to a device for. absorbing the recoil of armament, for example, amachine gun, and the invention hasfor an object the provision of an improved, lightweight and inexpensivedevice ofthistype.

For absorbing the recoil of guns generally of the type not adaptedwto. shoulder firing. some mechanism, either hydraulic or including .coil

springs, is interposed between the firing portion of the gun and its carriage. Either type of mechanism incorporates a great many working parts and is therefore complicated and difilcult to assemble, manufacture and. maintain; Furthermore, when in use in thefield the problem is complicated by the presence of dirt and mud which clogs the working parts. In one type of machine gun presently inuse the recoil unit includes coiled springs and contains fifty-four working parts, all of which may give difficulty because of failure .2 H Another object is to provide a recoil device having its parts so adapted and arranged that it will withstand abuse in service and not become distorted.

of adjustment and improper operation due to the presence of 1 dirt and mud. Likewise, the problem of supply of repair parts becomes difficult as all oi the parts mustbe-available in field stock. The cost of such a unit isnecessarily hi h and may constitute asubstantial part of the cost of the nti un. 'Accordinglyit is a further object of hi inYentioil o pr vide. a e o m ce r a machine g un, for example, which may be made of one piece orof only a few pieces, which is superior in operatiomeliminates many problems of maintenance and improper functiioning due to dirt and mud, is inexpensive to 1 construct, and with respect to whichrepair and replacement are virtually eliminated. I y

A princlpal objectof the invention, therefore, is to provide arecoil device adapted to be interposed between the operating portion of the gun and its carriage and comprising a single sheet of material suitably punched and formed to'yield thedesired structure.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a recoil device of the type described which includes leaf spring inertia absorbing ele-' 'the gun' suiiiciently to interfere with its accuracy respecting the target. 7

Yet another aim is to providein a recoil device resilient parts to absorb the recoil and hinged parts to carry the weight; ofithe gun independently of the. resilient means. 7 V

Still another object is to provide, a recoil device in which the resilient members areso'formed and proportioned as to absorb the 'recoilfrequently in the intendedmanner, without possibility of fatigue failure of any portion thereof.

Another object is to provide a recoil device having the qualities aforesaid but which is light inweight. H V j Another object is to provideinconnection with a recoil device as described a deflecting plate upon which the spent cartridges may be discharged from the gun and deflected to one, side in order that they may not accumulate within the recoil mechanism to cause jamming thereof. I 7

Other and fur ther'objects will appear as the description proceeds, P

In carrying out the invention in-one form we provide a suitably p nched and formed single-- piece of resilient material properly tempered in those parts thereof intended to exercise the recoil absorbing function. The device includes a-body portion, two pairs of linkage arms to support the gun with respect to its carriage, members maintaining the parts of each pair rigidly with respect to each other, and leaf type spring arms interposed between the body and each pair of linkage arms. The body portion and the linkage arms may be reinforced as desired and holesare provided in the body portion and the linkage arms whereby the device may be suitably connected intermediate the body of the gun and its carriage.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of one type of gun to which the device is adapted;

Fig. 2 is a perspective View of the recoilpdevice proper; 1 V

Fig. 3 is a cross section taken on the line 33 of Fig.2;

Fig. 4 is a cross section taken on the line 44 ofFig.2; v

Fig. 5 is a cross section taken on the line55 ofFig. 2; and V 1 Fig. 6 is a diagram to indicate certain features of the functioning of the device. n.

Referring first to Fig. 1, there'is: shownone type of gun, namely, a machinegun'towhich the device is adapted and including the gun proper It angled cross section and include a horizontally disposed leg and a vertically disposed leg Iii which, together with the neck l3, form a rigid,

elongated principal support; forthe .remaining parts of the device. a

At their extremities the legs Iii-may be slightly enlarged into a substantially circular form to provide ears I! through eachol lwhichis :an ,apere ture H3. The horizontally measured distance between the centers of the apertures I8 may vary depending upon the size of the gun to which the device isstorbe attachelhand the .r-ecoil characteristicsofthe same generally I Extendinglin either direction from the neck l3 and unitary therewith is the forward-resilient ar-mi 9 an'd the rearwardresilient-;arm 20. i The arm l 9 is substantially might angled in form, as mostgclearly-seen Fig.1, and the-arm 2B is provided with a sinuous-curve including quadrant portions- 2i, 22'-and'.23- (Fig. 5)., while the arm la is" provided wi't l'i-" asimilar li1uadrarit shaped corneri 24 A-t its upper extremitythe arm I 9 continues transverselyirrboth dir'e'ctions to form the meinbe'r 25 disp'o's'e'dat a-sufficient distance above the n'eck l-t {to yield a free vertical length of spring wil I 9 which, together-with the-horizontally ex tending length thereof, is intended toprovide recoiL-absorblng characteristics of the desired degree The 1 transverse me'mbe'r T1 2 5- isformed at itskxtreinit-ies into portions 26- which are extended dpwnwardly to--form the vertically exten'dihg-links Z-l -'At -its--upper end :each link 27 is provided-with-;an-- aperture-25"and at its lower end With-an aprture fiifthe aperture 2-9}in;eacl1 link 2'! being in register withfit' associated-aperture l ll Te provide an 'onal rigifdit-y the links Z'l may -be-prOvidd on Q ne-edgewith-a fiang'e-s I as shown: *The tiansve ember 25'has in its upper edge a eoneav aperture 30 for 5 clearing the barrel of the gun. v 7

"The rearward resilientar-in 2 0 atits upper end continues; transversely in both; directions to form a rne'rnb er -32 an'd then at rig ht angles .theretointo portions 33? ='I--he' lattr'- continue into-thedownwar'dly extending links fi hsimilar-inconstruction and function to the-links -21-.- At itsgupper end each link-is provided with an aperture 35 and at its lower 'endwith an aperture 36in register-with associated apertures 18.;

Inasmuch as the recoildevice is sometimes located below the opening of the gunthrough which. spent .cartridges are 'disch-arged,- it is gpreferred to provide an element-in connectionwith thercoil device which will deflect the spent cartridges harmlessly to one side to avoid theirlna terference withproper working of the device. ;In the present embodiment this element is shown as a wingA'i formed-inte'grally with a side" member l4 and extending upwardly and transversely of the device at an angle :of a'pproximately 30f", as seen in Figs. 3 and 4. Accordingly, cartridges dropping from aboveandeimpingin'gl onsthewiiig ll are deflected harmlesslyitoionesides 1The..recoil; Jabsorb'er "of; oursinven'tion maybe attached.to:thelgumand itsnarriage inlany-suitable s'manner, but theresisishown bmway ofex-'- ample bolts 42 passing through the apertures 58 and 35, the said bolts engaging suitably formed parts of the gun which constitute no part of the present invention. At its lower side the device 5 is similarly engaged with the carriage by bolts 43 passing through the apertures 18, 29 and 36 an'dthrough suitable members connected to the carriage and-likewise forming no part of the invention. Bolts 42 and 43 have a free fit in their -respective apertures to permit the links 21 and 34 tooscillate thereabo-ut in a manner to be described. It willbe appreciated that the design of our structure issuchthat it affords great flexibility in manufaeture while. permitting the desired shape and strength to be imparted to the resilient elements lhatds to say, the lateral, vertical and horizontal spacing as well as the size of the apertures i8; 28, 29, 35 and 36 and the other aifected dimensions may be readily adapted to gunsand carriages. already in us e..and, therefore, may replace existinglxdevices whicn'have proved corn-v plicated andiunsatisfactory- *Itlwillbe observed that in operation the --links 2? and$4 willoscillateswithrespect to their. upper and lower points of attachment to permit a pjarallel movement between the gun pr'oper and its carriage :so that the. aimingjof the -gunis di-sturbed only insignificantly during; firing. This in which the neutral Orwell-firing position of-the absorber-isiindicated by a :verticalline. Such line would correspond :to:the-vertical-center line of pairs of apertures and 3fi or 28-anjd-2 9 and-by 35 way of illustration the vertical center distance is shown as'4ff.

'Uponthe firing of the first-cartridge the'mechanism :of the-gun -is such that a maxi'inum recoil occurs and, in one type of gun, this may produce 4-0 a-substantially horizontal displacement 0f the the required positi'on-of the gun, a oveithepar: riage, we attain a minimum vertica instance-approximately /s -an found not-to alffect 'thefacuracy '7' will; be understood thatguns of the't theinventionisapbllcable "re 'riot-ge mateinitial sighting. correct i on and maintenance of the sighting is "by the nse oi tracer bullets. 1

As the nks nd?! l'l i" lfil fii f lon r connections 53; the transverse-members "'25 r and 32- --wil-lbe oscillated s nd -moved upyvardly am;

downwardly therebyproducing deflection the spring elements l il and 'ip to absorbfthrecoilr The arcuate portions #21}, 2 I; 2zeand- 23gserve ;to

Q transmit the stressesoif deflection frorn thejlverti cal arms of the --'elements 4'9 and 20 to the horizontal portions thereof in -a an er 159115511 lated to yield the least-strain at -the corners aria thus reduce the possibility'ol fati'giie failure t 0 a negligible degree. Inasmuch as the'greater mass of the gun is at the rear it is required that the major'portion of the recoil be absorbed on the rearward spring element; and the additional arcuate portions 2| and 22 are provided in that element in order to yield additional zones of easier deflection at 50 andil.

Itwill beunderstood that by suitable processes the resilient members [9 and 20'may be heattreated'to yield the required spring temper, and the remaining portions of the device heat-treated differently to impart the requisite tensile strength withoutrendering them brittle. rnrthermore, it will be apprehended that the device need not be made of a single sheet of metal but may comprise severalparts welded, riveted or otherwise fastened, 'In this event all parts other than the spring elements l9 and 20 may be made of a cheaper material having the required structural characteristics and the spring elements may be made of the more expensive'spring steel.

It is to be particularly noted that the means of attaching the recoil device to the gun forms no part of the invention since different types of armament may require different types of connections. "For simplicity we have shown apertures adapted to be engaged by pins. Other modes of connection will suggest themselves without departing in any way from the essence of the invention.

Neither is it intended that the invention be limited to a device entirely of sheet metal as parts other than the resilient elements [9 and 20 may be made of forgings or castings reinforced in any suitable manner.

The links 21 and 34 are shown as spaced slightly farther apart at the upper portion than at the lower portion. This is no feature of the invention but is done merely to indicate that the spacing of the upper ends of the links may be wider or narrower than the opposite ends to adapt the device to different dimensions of parts to which it is connected. Nor is it necessary that the transverse spacing of the two ends of the body portion be equal since one may be wider or narrower than the other depending upon the dimensions of the carriage and the mode of attachment thereto. It will also be understood that the spring elements l9 and 20 may be of different dimensions and of difierent tempers to produce selected results in the action of the recoil device.

While we have shown particular embodiments of our invention, it will be understood, of course, that we do not wish to be limited thereto since many modifications may be made, and we, therefore, contemplate by the appended claims to cover any such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of our invention.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A device for absorbing recoil adapted to be interposed between a recoiling body and its fixed support comprising a one-piece member including a base portion, oppositely extending resilient arms forming continuations of said base portion and disposed substantially at right angles to said base portion, each said arm terminating in a T-shaped head, the ends of the head of the T continuing substantially parallel to the said arms and substantially coextensive therewith to form link elements terminating adjacent said base portion, each element having an aperture formed therein adjacent each end thereof, the said apertures being adapted.- to receive means to attach the device to the body and to the support.

2. A device for absorbing recoil adapted to be interposed between a recoiling body ai'id its fixed support comprising a one-piece member including a base portion, a iongitudinally extending upwardly directed flange extending from either side of said base portion and having an aperture through each end thereof, a resilient arm extending from each end of said-base portion and directed substantially at right angles to said base portion, each said arm terminating at its upper extremity in a transverse T-shaped head, each end of said head having an, aperture formed therein, the axis of each said last mentioned aperture being parallel to and substantially in vertical alignment withthe axis of each adjacent first mentioned aperture, all said apertures being adaptedto receive means for attaching the device to the body and the support.

3. A device for absorbing recoil adapted to be interposed between a recoiling body and its fixed support comprising a base portion including op- -positely. positioned upwardly extending flanges along the two longitudinal edges thereof. and a neck connecting said flanges, said flanges having an aperture adjacent each end thereof, resilient arms extending outwardly from each side of said neck 1 and substantially parallel to said flanges for a portion thereof and continuing upwardly substantially at right angles to said flanges, each said arm terminating at its upper end in a substantially T-shaped head including ears substantially in alignment with said flanges, each said ear having an apertureformed therein, the said aperture in each said ear having its axis parallel to the nearest adjacent aperture in a flange, said apertures being adapted to receive means for attaching the device to the body and the support.

4. A device for absorbing recoil adapted to be interposed between a recoiling body and its fixed support comprising a base portion including oppositely positioned upwardly extending flanges along the two longitudinal edges thereof and a neck connecting said flanges, a resilient arm extending outwardly and upwardly from each side of said neck, each said arm terminating at its upper end in a T-shaped head, a downwardly extending link at the extremity of each end of said head and overlapping said flanges adjacent the ends thereof, each said link having apertures through the upper and lower ends thereof, respectively, and each said flange having an aperture formed therein and through each end thereof, each said last mentioned aperture being in register with the associated aperture in said link, and all said apertures being adapted to re ceive means for engaging the device with the body and the support.

5. A device for absorbing recoil adapted to be interposed between a recoiling body and its fixed support comprising an elongated base portion including upturned flanges along two opposed edges of said base portion and substantially coextensive with the major axis of said base portion and a neck positioned substantially at the minor axis of said base portion, oppositely extending resilient arms attached to said neck and substantially parallel to said edges and deformed upwardly at a point substantially in alignment with the associated ends of said flanges, each arm being provided at its upper extremity with a transverse member deformed at its ends to form links substantially in alignment with the planes of said flanges and continuing downwardly to overlap said flanges, the

said links being freely movable with respect to said flanges upon distortion of said resilient lower endv thereof; each---said-flange-having-an aperture formed @in each end thereof the lower apertures-of saidlinks beingin register with the associated apertures insaid-- flanges, all-said apertures being;adapted to reeeivameansiorengaging I the device with the -bcdy and the-rsup-i port;

6. A device for absorbing recoil adapted -t0 -be interposed between =-a recoiling body'and-it-s fixed support comprising a "basepertion-,- a. plurality -;of rigid legs -forming;part -of said-base portion; each said legincluding meanssubstantially in- -a common plane for attachin the device 5130 the support, a plurality'oi-resi-lient armsfextending fromsaid-base pertiomandhaving means at the free end thereof for attaching the dev-ice-to "the body 1 and linkage means intermediate both said attaching means whereby recoil rmevementofthe device is confined tc -a A :path substantially parallel to the said planet- '1. A devicefor absorbing recoil -adapted' to be interposed between a recoi-ling body and'its fixed support comprising ---a base -=por-ticn; a a plurality of rigid arms forming part-0i: said baserportiqn, each said arm-having an-aperture atthefrpe end thereoffor attaching thedev-iee to '-thesup port, a pair of resilient *membersextending ;Qp positely from-and attachedio said fbase, said members being deflectabla-in the direction 1f recoil and the plane of deflectin of said mem: bers being parallel to th e plane of recoil;* an inv 8 verted substantially u sh'aped member afiixed to the freeend=oeach said-member; thebase-of the U Iorming the point of attachment; each leg-of each -said-=member being disposed substantially vertically-and i having a pair- 0f spaced apart apertures formed therein, 7 the axes -ofsaid apertures being parallel; and :the loweraperture -0f each said member being in register with an associatedapertureformedin'a saidarm, saidpairs of-registering apertures -b eing L adapted 4 to receive means for attaching -.thedevice 1 to the support,- andthe =upper apertures-insaiddegs beingadapted to receive-means for attaching the-device'to the -body.-

ROY S; SAN'EQRD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references. are ,of record..in. the file ,oftthis. patent:

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